A phenomenon at Green Hope High School, Luke Nystrom (‘28) is known for his extraordinary magic tricks and performances that never fail to amaze his crowd. The magician showcases his skills both in person and online, with a large following on various social media platforms. His posts include a variety of content, highlighting various tricks as well as posting occasional comedy videos, brain teasers and riddles. The GH Falcon recently sat down with Nystrom for more insight into his passion for magic.
Beginning at the early age of 13, Nystrom has had a multitude of years of experience, which he spent learning tricks and practicing for his classmates. His passion for magic began in seventh grade while watching the TV show “Penn and Teller: Fool Us,” a magic show where magicians perform for the duo. Penn and Teller are rarely unable to figure out the trick, making the performance Nystrom watched incredibly fascinating. “There was this one magician who came onto the show and did a really cool trick. He was about a year older than me at the time, so he was a kid, and he fooled Penn and Teller. I’d never seen that happen before, and that’s what got me into magic,” he shared.
No impressive talent comes without practice, and for Nystrom, that came in the form of YouTube videos. He found an online platform with simple walkthroughs of various tricks, allowing him to try for himself and practice his skills. “My first resource was this website that had magic videos from a bunch of different YouTube channels. I learned my tricks from a bunch of videos,” he explained. As time passed, he acquired more tricks that he now frequently performs.
Nystrom has participated in various performances, both online and in person, but has memorable occasions that stand out. He was given the opportunity to perform in Green Hope’s talent show, where he wowed the crowd with various tricks. Additionally, he performed frequently for his Speech One Honors class, capturing the attention of and impressing his classmates.
Out of his ever-growing collection, his favorite magic trick to complete involves a deck of cards and one other participant. “There’s a trick where I give someone ten cards, and then I pretend to throw some cards into their pocket, and then there are 20 cards in their pocket,” shared Nystrom. The trick is one of many he can do involving other participants. As for magic as a whole, his love for the hobby comes from the connections it allows him to form with others. “My favorite part about magic is making new friends along the way and reaching different audiences,” he shared.
His magic hobby has grown into one that entertains those around him, both fascinating and confusing those who participate. His passion for performing stemmed from his first group experience in seventh grade, where he shared that everyone gave the best possible reactions. “It just pushed me to do more performances for groups.”
As for the long term, Nystrom’s biggest goal for magic is to become famous and start his own show in Las Vegas. “I’m starting on America’s Got Talent so I can get the audience I need to accomplish that.” Ultimately, his advice for those interested in pursuing magic is “to inspire, not fool,” introducing people to a hobby he has grown to love.
